Portable suspending device for sucker rods



Aug. 10 1926. I G. E. FRITTS PORTABLE SUSPENDIHG DEVICE FOR SUCKER RODSFiled July '7, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY, WW

Aug 10 19260 G. E. FRITTS PORTABLE SUSPENDING DEVICE FOR SUCKER RODSFiled July 7,

1924 3 Shana-Sham. 2

Aug. 10 1926 G- E. FRITTS PORTABLE SUSPENDING DEVICE FOR sucxua- RODSFiled July '7, 1924 3' Sheets-Sheet 5 E F f E 6 m Q Patented Aug. 10,1926.

UNITED STATES 1,595,652 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. FRITTS, OF TAFT, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, ."BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,'IO F. A. KEEFOVER AND DAISY KEEFOVER.

PORTABLE SUSPENDING DEVICE FOR SUCKER RODS.

Application filed July 7, 1924. Serial No. 724,700.

This invention relates to oil well equipment and relates particularly toa portable suspending device for sucker rods. The device presented inthis application is similar to the arrangement presented in my pendingapplication entitled Sucker rod hanger, filed May 2, 1923, Serial No.636,107.

In the oil well industry, oil is pumped from the well by means of a pumpplunger, which reciprocates in a pump barrel, the plunger and barrelbeing situated at the lower end of the well. Mechanism for reciprocatingthe plunger in the barrel is located at the surface of the groundand'motion from the mechanism is transferred to the pump plunger througha string of sucker rods. When it isnecessaryto replace or repairtheplunger or barrel, the sucker rods must be pulled from the well. Thesucker rods are very flexible and therefore hard to handle. Previous tomy invention supra, it was necessary to uncouple the sucker rods instands of several joints and lay them outside the derrick generally toone side of the engine house. It will readily be seen that this wasquite a task, because of the nature of the rods which had to be carriedthrough the side of the derrick between the girts and diagonal membersthereof. By using my previous invention it was possible to uncouple thesucker rods in quite long lengths and to hang them in one corner of thederrick, thus making it very convenient and very quick to remove andinstall in the well.

As the sucker rod hangers are used only when it is necessary to pull thesucker rods, it will be seen that the hangers are unused most of thetime. Equipping each well with sucker rod hangers therefore incursconsiderable capital in respect to the amount of use to which thehangers are put.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable suspendingdevice for sucker rods, this device being of such construction that itmay be transported from one well to another when it is desired, ornecessary to pull the sucker rods of that specific well.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a device of thischaracter a means for holding the flexible members and hanger memberscompactly against the body structure of the device during the shippingthereof.

It is also an obj ect of the invention to provide in a device of thischaracter a means for preventing a lateral movement in the device whenit is installed in the derrick.

It is a further object of the invention to provide certain features ofconstruction which will render the using of the device with safety,these features being elucidated hereinafter. e

It is a still further object of the inventionto provide a device whichis very compact n size, which is very sturdy in construction and whichis very economical to produce.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evidenthereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a device presenting the features of myinvention.

Fig. 2 1s a plan view of Fig. 1 on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which theattachment rings are spaced on the suspension member by the spacingmember.

Fig. 4 is a section taken as indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing very clearly thebinding member employed in the device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which thebinding members are secured around the flexible members and hangers.

Fig. 7 is a large perspective view showing a form of sucker rod hanger,which I may employ in the device.

-Figs. 8 and 9 are essentially diagrammatic views showing the deviceinstalled in the well 'in the manner in which it is utilized.

Fig. 10 a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the device isrendered nonmovable in a lateral direction.

In the drawings certain parts in the different views are broken away orleft out purposely to efiicaciously present the various features of thisinvention. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the body structure 11 comprisesa central supporting member in the form of a vertically extending rod12,

which has a hook or attaching member 13v situated at the top end thereofas clearly shown in Fig. 1. A suspension member in the form of a solidring 15 is secured to the member 12 by means ofsupporting struts 17,these supporting struts being preferably secured to the central member12 at the upper end thereof at 18 as by welding. The struts 17 extendoutwardly and downwardly around the ring 15 and are welded thereto at 19as shown. The lower ends of the struts 17 converge and are welded to thelower end of the central member 12 as indicated at 21. Attachment rings23 as shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, are arranged on the suspensionmember 15. A spacing member 24 is provided for spacing the rings 23 in adefinite location, this member 24 having semicircular slots 25 which,when the member is installed in place, fit over the upper portions ofthe rin s 23, thereby holding them in place as shown. Secured to eachring 23 is a flexible member in the form of a chain 28. These flexiblemembers hang downwardly and have a sucker rod hanger 29 secured at thelower end thereof. As shown in Fig. 7, a form of sucker rod hanger whichI may employ comprises an arm portion 30, to which the chain 28 may beattached. Opposite from the attaching end of the arm is formed a headportion 32, which head portion 32 has a slot 33 formed therein. The useof the sucker rod hanger will be described hereinafter. The inventionemploys a binding means which is arranged to bind the lower ends of theflexible members and the sucker rod hangers compactly against the bodyduring the shipping of the device. As shown clearly in Fig. 5, asupporting member 34 extends from the central rod 12,

- preferably being welded thereto. At the outer end of the member 34,lugs 35 are provided through which the bolts 37, extend, there being apair of lugs formed on each side of the member 34. Lower binding members38 are-pivoted on each of the pins or bolts37, these members beingsemi-circular in shape as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Ex.- tendingsubstantially radial from the free end of the members 38 are ears 39,one having a wedge 40 and the other ear 39 having an opening 41 throughwhich the wedge 40 is arranged to extend. As clearly shown in Fig. 6,when the binding members 38 are in binding position, the wedge 40extends through the opening 41 and a pin 42 arranged on a chain 43 mayextendthrough a hole 44 in the wedge 40 in a manner to secure thebinding members around the suspension members. It will be seen that themembers 38 are forced together in such a manner that there will alwaysbe a pressure against the pin 42 so as to retain the 'pin frictionallyin place. Pivoted at 46 tothe supporting member 34 is-an arm 47 this arm47 being bifurcated as shown so that a leg 48 extends to either side ofthe member 34.

Secured to the arm 47 are lugs 49 having pins 50 extending therethrough.Upper binding members 51 are pivoted between each pair of lugs 49, thesepairs being situated to each side of the arm 47, similar to the bindingmembers 38. The binding members 51 have ears 53, one ear being providedwith a wedge 54, whereas the other ear is provided with a slot 55. Asshown in Fig. 1, when the device is arranged for shipping, the arm 47 isarranged to extend in substantially vertical position and the bindingmembers are secured around the device in such a manner that the upperbinding members 51 compact the flexible members against the body and thelower binding members compact the sucker rod hangers against the body.

Pivoted on the lug 56, which is provided at the upper end of the rod 12,is an elevating link 57, as shown in Figs; 1 and 2. This link is for thepurpose of attaching the device to the elevator when it is desired toraise or lower it in the derrick. To prevent the body member from beinginadvertently detached from its supporting member, a safety arrangementas shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided. This arrangeinentcomprises a gatemember 59, which pivots at- 60 to the hook 13. Secured to the gate 59 isa rod 61 which extends downwardly therefrom, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.It will be seen from Fig. 1 that it will be impossible for a supportingmember to egress from the hook without first swinging the gate 59 intothe dotted position as shown at 63 in Fig. 1, the swinging thereof beingaccomplished through the rod 61.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is a derrick in which my device is arrangedto operate. The derrlck comprises the corner members 71 which havesuitable girts 7 2 and diagonal members which are left off for the sakeof. clearness. At the upper end of the corner members 71 is placed thecrown block 73, which includes I-beams 74. One of the I- beams 74, asshown, supports a hanger member which may be in the form of a loopedcable 76. On the girt 7 7 is provided a platform 78 on which a workmanhandling the sucker rods may stand. The sucker rod hanger suspensiondevice of my invention may be installed in a derrick in the follow-- ingmanner.

Considering that the device has been delivered to the derrick floor, theelevator, shown at 79 in Fig. 8, is lowered and secured to the elevatingmember 57 in a suitable manner. .The elevator is then moved upwardly andthe device hoisted to the top of the derrick. The device is thenadjusted to a position suitable to permit the entrance-of the hangermember 76 into the hook 13. The weight is then transferred from theelevator 79 to the hanger member 76, after which the elevator isdetached from the elevating link 57. The pins 42 are then re-' movedfrom the holes in their respective wedges 40 and 54, which allow theupper and lower binding means 51 and 38 to be swung outwardly on theirpivots 49 and 37 respectively, the flexible members 28 and the hangers29 being allowed to hang substantially as shown in Fig. 8. The arm 47 isthen swung into the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 5 or fulllines in Fig. 10. Pivoted to the outer end of the arm 47 at 81 is asecondary arm 82, which arm 82 when the arm 47 is in the positionindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 is folded as shown. However,after the arm has been swung, as indicated in Fig. 10, the arm 82 isthen swung into the position shown by the full lines 83 of Fig. 10. Thegirt 85 as clearly shown in Fig. 10 is provided with a member 86 whichprovides an orifice 87. The end of the arm 82 is extended through theorifice 87 as shown. The arm 82 has numerous openings 88 providedtherein. and after the arm has been extended through the orifice 87, thepins 42 which are arranged on the chain 43 are extended through theopening 88 as shown, these pins preventing a lateral movement in the arm47.

It will be readily seen that in this manner a lateral motion in the bodyof the device is prevented, and that a vertical motion will not occurbecause of the fact that the device is hanging from the upper endthereof. After the device has been swung in this manner as shown in Fig.8, the sucker rods may be pulled. The sucker rod is secured to theelevator 79 and lifted into the position as shown at 90, Fig. 8. Theworkman standing onthe platform 78 then hooks one of the hangers 29around the rod 90 so that the rod extends into the slot 33, after whichthe elevator is lowered, and the weight of the sucker rod is transferredfrom the elevator to the sucker rod hanger 29.

It will be seen that when the weight is transferred to the hanger 29,the lower edge 92 of the slot 33 grips the rod 90 in a manner tofrictionally support it. The workman then swings the lower end of thesucker rod 90 back to one side of'the walking beam 93, as shown in Fig.9, thus keeping it to one side of the well and out of the way. The othersucker rod stands are removed and suspended in a similar manner.

From the foregoing description it will readily be seen that by the useof my present invention, the expense of supplying each well with suckerrod hanging equipment is avoided. It will also be seen that considerabletime and labor is prevented by the use of this device.

I claim as my invention z- 1. In a portable sucker rod hanger device,the combination of: a body structure;

sucker rod hangers suspended from said body; and binding members securedto said body structure for binding said hangers against said bodystructure.

2. In aportable sucker rod hanger device, the-combination of: a bodystructure; sucker rod hangers suspended from said body structure; asupporting member extending from said body structure; and bindingmembers secured to said supporting member for binding said sucker rodhangers against said body structure. 7

' 3. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: a bodystructure; sucker rod hangers suspended from said body structure; andupper and lower binding members for binding said sucker rod hangersagainst said body structure.

4. In combination: a derrick; a hanging -member secured inv saidderrick; and a sucker rod hanger device removably hung by said hangingmember comprising a body structure which is hung on saidhanging member,sucker rod hangers, and flexible means for securing said hangers to saidbody structure.

5. In combination: a derrick; a hanging member secured 'in said derrick;a sucker rod hanger device removably hung by said hanging membercomprising a body structure which is hung on said hanging member, suckerrod hangers, and flexible means for securing said'hangers to said bodystructure; and means connectin said body structure with said derrickFor, preventing a lateral movement in said body.

6. An arrangement as presented in claim 5 in which said means is in theform of an arm member permanently secured to said body structure anddetachably secured ,to the derrick. I

7. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: a bodystructure sucker rod hangers; and flexible means for suspending saidhangers from said body.

8. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: a bodystructure; sucker rod hangers suspended from said body structure; andflexible means whereby-said device may be removably supported in aderrick.

9. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of a bodystructure; sucker rod hangers suspended from said body structure;andmeans for binding said hangers to said body structure.

10. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: a bodystructure having a means for removably supporting it in a derrick;sucker rod hangers; flexible members for suspending said hangers fromsaid body structure; and binding means arranged to compact said hangersaround said body structure.

11. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: a bodystructure having a means for removably supporting it in a derrick;sucker rod hangers; flexible members for suspendin said hangers fromsaid body structure; Iinding means arranged to compact said hangersaround said body structure; and means for hoisting said devlce.

12. A device as defined in claim 10 in which said binding means includesa pair of semi-circular members which are arranged to extend around saidhangers and means for securing said members in place.

13. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: a bodystructure;

'sucker rod hangers suspended from said bod structure; a supportingmember extending from the lower end of said body structure; an armpivotally secured to said supporting member; lower binding memberssecured to said supporting member; and upper binding members secured tosaid arm, said upper and lower binding members being for the purpose ofbinding said sucker rod hangers against said body structure.

14. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an annular member secured to said central rod; sucker rodhangers; and flexib e members whereby said sucker rod hangers aresuspended from said annular member.

15. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an annular member; struts whereby said annular member issecured to said central rod; sucker rod hangers; and flexible memberswhereby said sucker rod hangers are suspended from said annular member.

16. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an annular member secured to said central rod; ringscarried by said annular member; sucker rod hangers; and flexible membersfor securing one of said sucker rod hangers to each of said rings. 1

17. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an v annular member secured to said central rod; ringscarried by said annular member; means for spacing said rings on saidannular member; sucker rod hangers; and flexible members for suspendingone of said sucker rod hangers from each of said rings.

18. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an annular member secured to said central rod by suitablestruts; sucker rod hangers suspended from said annular member; a hookformed at the upper end of said central rod whereby said device may behung; and a gate for closing the opening of said hook.

19. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an annular member secured to said central rod by suitablestruts; sucker rod hangers suspended from said annular member; a hookformed at the upper end of said central rod whereby said device may behung; a gate for closing the opening of said hook; and a rod formanually operating said gate.

20. In a portable sucker rod hanger device, the combination of: acentral rod; an annular member secured to said central rod by suitablestruts; sucker rod hangers suspended from said annu'ar member; a hookformedat the upper end of said central rod whereby said device maybehung; a gate for closing the opening of said hook; and an elevatinglink secured to the upper end of said central rod whereby said devicemay be elevated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 5th day of June, 1924.

' GEORGE E. FRITTS.

